4 storylines for IU’s game vs. Wisconsin

1. Richard Lagow or Peyton Ramsey?
Ramsey left last week’s game at Maryland twice during the second half with what appeared to be a lower body injury. IU coach Tom Allen said as recently as Wednesday that he was unsure if Ramsey would be able to play against Wisconsin, so the door could be open for Lagow to make his first start since Sept. 30 at Penn State. The senior performed admirably during last weekend’s second half, completing 12 of his 21 passes for 131 yards.

2. Health of running backs
Both backfields are ailing. Wisconsin freshman Jonathan Taylor, the Big Ten’s leading rusher, left last week’s game with a leg injury and is categorized as questionable for Saturday. Indiana’s Morgan Ellison and Mike Majette missed last week’s game with unspecified injuries. Whether they’ll be available has not been announced. Taylor would be the biggest loss of the bunch. The rookie is averaging 148.1 yards per game and has a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns.

3. Getting special teams back on track
Last week’s poor special teams play appeared as an aberration for an IU program that has largely succeeded in transforming this side of the game into an asset. Needless to say, the Hoosiers will be focused on preventing another special teams letdown in key moments. Losing dynamic punt returner J-Shun Harris was another blow for the Hoosiers in the special teams phase. Indiana will now turn to Luke Timian, Rashard Fant and Whop Philyor, as return men on punt duties.

4. IU’s offensive success vs. Wisconsin defense
Despite playing a weak schedule through the season’s first two months, the Badgers have done what has been needed on defense. Wisconsin ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense, allowing merely 12.9 points per game. It is also fifth in total defense, yielding 268 yards per game. Saturday will be another difficult test for an IU offense that showed some encouraging signs, at times, during the Maryland game.